The pastel clothing trend is totally in for the spring and summer seasons of almost every year, but we are constantly wondering what to wear pastel colors with, and even how to combine the pastels. For those who want to be wearing the top looks of the year, the paler hues are your best bet. But how to wear pastel colors? Which pastel colors match your skin tone? Are pastels even your style?
The world of pastel colors has so much to offer, but it has to be done right to avoid looking washed out. This type of coloring brings luxury to mind, candies and innocence. It brings to mind luxury on a sunny afternoon, and a gentle life. Pastels conjure images of happy babies and well-behaved children in their Sunday best.
For some of you ladies, you will be buying into the latest trend with your pastels. For others, you probably simply love the gentleness of the pastel colors that are such a spring staple. They are certainly a classic, timeless so to speak, and will be stylish no matter what year it may be.
The cool effects of pastel colors are not to be denied, and they look positively incredible paired with other interesting trends of the moment. To look your best in pastels, first we must make sure your skin tone is the right one for each.
Pastel Clothing Trend: Contents
- Best Pastel Colors for Your Skin Tone
- Pastel Trends to Try
- First Timer Pastel Colors
- Interesting Looks to Pull off in Pastel Colors
Best Pastel Colors for Your Skin Tone
• If you are light skinned: Stick to a lovely baby blue paired with strong makeup for the best look, especially if you have warm undertones. With light hair and eyes, pastels and neutrals in cool tones are your friends. Soft lavender looks quite romantic against your skin tone, with light muted hues working beautifully on your coloring. Cooler undertones work beautifully with pale orange and peaches as well.
• If you are medium skinned: Enjoy a wide array of pastel colors, starting with a lovely dove grey, which is so very much in style, buttery yellows or mint greens, as well as lovely light pinks that look positively sumptuous on your coloring. Grassy greens will especially make those features of yours pop out with sudden allure.
• If you are dark skinned: Pastel yellows would look pretty incredible on dark skin tones, as the contrast is just right. Pastel purples also give you warmth while playing with your natural tone. Plus, the color is especially soothing. Dark skin with warm undertones should opt for a fluorescent pastel, such as a bright teal for extra effect.
Dark skin with cool undertones, however, is the chameleon, switching between cool and warm coloring with ease, particularly the more shocking, brighter hues. Sunset-inspired pastel colors are the ones that work best for you. A vacation in the Caribbean, anyone?
In general, lavender looks lovely on cooler skin tones, while yellows are made for the warmer ones. Pink, however, is great on all skin tones, warming up the face and bringing a happy feeling forward. It’s simple, bright and beautiful. Pastel pinks are so very lovely, and have as great an effect as darker or hotter pinks.
Pastel Trends to Try
There are so many interesting trends each year, it is hard to pick what works best. Yet, certain styles are quite a bit more on the flattering side on most women, especially when we take into consideration the pastel coloring. Once you have matched the pastel color to your skin tone, it is time to pick the trend you wish to opt for. Some of the prettiest styles to choose from include:
• The Monochrome Pastel: Cool or warm, blues or pinks, the pastels look amazing when worn in the same coloring from top to bottom. A whole outfit in a single lovely pastel will always look incredible. It is particularly entrancing on a crop top with a long skirt design, sometimes even having the shoes match the dress. It seems to elongate and really bring the focus to the visage and exposed skins.
• The Mixed Pastels: You can throw two different pastel colors together for quite the softly bold creation. With bright lipsticks to complement the gentler hues, the look can be incredibly lovely to wear out. Mixing pastel colors also includes mixing a single colored outfit with another color in accessories.
• Popping on Neutrals: Think a white outfit with a pale pink coat. When the look is a simple colored one, the added pastel really does capture one’s attention and give the whole thing a sweet appeal. A touch of innocence, a touch of summer and a touch of everything sugary place this particular style at the top of your wardrobe designs.
• Pastel + Brights: Gentle yet bold – once again we look at this particular descriptive phrase for the way we should be looking this year. With a pastel dress and a bold jacket, you achieve a look that is bound to draw attention. A popping fuchsia jacket over a light aqua dress? Perfection!
• Pastel Color Block: Sweet sophistication is in the color blocking trend. That means you will either be going pastel on top or the bottom, sticking to single colors instead of prints. Two pieces from the same color in different shades also work, while you can opt for a dark pant with a pastel top. If you feel extra-happy, go with bright bottoms and a pastel top instead.
• Ombre in Pastels: Ombre hair is a huge trend, so why not go for ombre clothing as well? The multi-colored effect brings back those tie-dye days, while oversized knit sweaters in the style can be utilized throughout the year.
• Pastel with Denim: Whether it is the summer shorts, the fall pants, the spring skirts or otherwise, denim plays a big part in your wardrobe every day. Pairing with a pastel shirt or even dress under a denim jacket makes for a lovely way to wear your pastel colors.
• With Prints and Textures: Textures are especially trending, which means that lacy skirts, ruffled shorts, and such other pieces are bound to appear mixed in with the pastels. Adding prints in either the light or even bolder hues is also to be expected now, and looks amazing when worn together.
• Leather & Pastel: The rocker chic look is just as lovely as the sweet and innocent one that pastels evoke. This can easily be achieved by adding on some leather to ease the femininity, while also ensuring that the edginess has a softer side to play with. When worn with neutral colored leather, you can also achieve more professional designs.
• Bold Pastels: Whether it is a bold pastel print or a metallic hue, playing it up in the coloring is only going to help your final result. This can come in especially handy when figuring out what to wear for the night, or when you have an important event to attend.
While it is great to follow the latest trends, you should also keep an eye out for outfits that are more in tune with your personality. If you are just starting off with adding pastels to your style, baby steps might be necessary to get you into the mindset.
First Timer Pastel Colors
Pastel clothing allows for a more lady-like appearance that might not always be what you are going for. Wearing pastel colors can come in the form of a simple piece of added accessory, such as a handbag or even your shoes. You can always balance out with more edgy styles, mixing and matching different genres to get the look that is entirely you.
Rules to follow:
1. Do not overdo it: Hair and makeup should be kept simple and sweet, with the pastel clothing getting all the attention. It is soft and feminine what you are going for. The sex appeal is not in being overly bold here.
2. Do not obsess over the detailing: No need to add lace to pastels or bring out the ribbons. It is pretty and flirtatious on its own without taking the feminine effect to new heights.
3. Start with powdery pants to get the pastel feel: You can wear this with a leather top or jacket as well for a sexier look, while the pants themselves can be of a soft lavender shade.
4. Play with pastel blazers: A simple denim jean with white top can be spruced up for a happier look with a light blue or aqua blazer, for example. It is the perfect combination of casual and professional, working perfectly for day or night.
5. Add just a single accessory: One accessory in a pastel hue is enough to change the game of your outfit, which means that using something small for your first time, like a clutch, might be your best bet to start off from. If handbags are still too much, start with simple milky colored shades.
6. Soft layers in pastel: Whether you are pairing with white pants or leather jackets, a simple pastel layer, such as a camisole in pastel will get you far, despite being afraid to try out the trend. You can also go for the top layer in pastel, where your blazer or coat comes in handy.
7. Choose to add pastel shoes alone: You do not even need to do anything else in a pastel color. Your shoes will be the perfect statement, and will either pop out or blend in, depending on the pastel hue desired.
8. Add on a statement belt: A darker, and perhaps even textured or printed belt adds to the allure of a pastel dress or two-piece outfit in a simple pastel hue. It can complement your figure beautifully as well, outlining that waist and allowing for hip flare below.
9. Do not look like an Easter egg: Honestly, you need that structure in your pastel pieces, whether it is a blazer or fitted pastel dress, or anything in between. If you are putting on a simple voluminous dress, it’s not going to flatter you in the least. Instead of a pink flared skirt, go for a light blush pencil skirt for a chic and sophisticated finish. Pastels in general look better when on fitted and body-skimming designs.
10. Do rock a cutout dress: Peepholes, keyholes, side cuts or any type of cutout can look amazing, especially against a lightly tanned or olive skin tone, really playing with the contrasts. It can be coy and pretty, but also sexy and edgy, all at once.
Interesting Looks to Pull off in Pastel Colors
The streets are full of fashionistas who have managed to really amp up the style and bring out the best in pastel clothing. Some have played with other hues as well, while others have mixed and matched in the gentler coloring for every aspect of their outfits. Some interesting looks as such include:
• Blue and white tweed with a graphic tee, pale pink jacket and matching knee-high boots. All colors in pastel. Stylish and entirely in trend while keeping to a unique look overall!
• Long lavender coat over midi skirt in pale pink and a white top, finished off with non-pastel accessories, bags and shoes.
• A winter pastel look can include a very pale blue coat over a similar colored outfit, with white shoes and white purse, only contrasted by a darker blue smoky makeup look.
• Pair pastel blue coats with black tops, pants or shoes, as well as a combination of the super darks, for an interesting look. Pink can be added on shoes or top for added effect.
• With a neutral base in the ankle-length pants, white blouse and white shoes, a statement pastel pink coat looks incredible.
• An icy blue polka dotted dress with an icy silvery coat, matching purse and darker silver shoes is a winning combination. The dark specs are all the color needed here.
• Light aqua booties, pink and purple textured coat and a pastel print dress combine for an interesting effect. Here, it is the footwear that really stands out with its brighter finish.
• Pale blue can be combined with a mint green, the former in a t-shirt and long sleeved shirt on top, while the latter is a frilly skirt over fringed jeans. A splash of color is ensured through a scarlet purse, while footwear is kept simple in sneakers.
• The denim effect can be pulled onto a print coat over cuffed denim pants, worn over black lace stiletto heels, incorporating quite a few of the year’s top trends. The coat is belted, of course.
• Chunky white boots add neutrality, while a brighter yellow purse gives the pastel look a much needed contrast. The skirt is a gentle, darker pastel, while that long coat is nice and warm and dusty pale pink in all its glory.
In Conclusion
You can wear pastel clothing everywhere, from your office to your dates, cocktail parties to a night on the town. No matter the season, pastel colors can be worn with ease. It can be made to look chic, edgy, rocker-style, sporty, Bohemian, or just simply very feminine.
Pastel clothing looks good on women of all sizes, and when it comes to your skin tone, you can make sure what you wear is the perfect match. If it looks good on you when you try it on, bring it home and show it lots of love. Pastel colors are definitely worth it!
Photos via Instagram
